Chapter I: Bourinot’s Rules of Order

Bourinot’s Rules of Order in City Council & Committee Meetings

Overall Background

In North America, there are two versions of parliamentary procedure developed over time, based on the British system.

1. 1. The Canadian authority, Sir John George Bourinot, who’s developed the Bourinot’s Rules of Order, which the Canadian Parliament uses.
   2.  An American, Henry M. Robert, who created another procedural rules named Robert’s Rules of Order.

• Sources: Learn more about Robert’s Rules of Order
  • The Basics of Robert’s Rules of Order
  • Additional Resources (Robert’s Rules of Order)
  • Parliamentary  Procedure Handbook

Some organizations in Quebec and in Acadia also use a third version, called the Code Morin, inspired by Robert’s Rules.

Although the Canadian Parliament uses Bourinot’s Rules of Order in their parliamentary meetings, movements such as Canada’s labour movement include national and international unions. For that, most of the international unions use Robert’s Rules of Order, while the national unions rely on Bourinot’s Rules of Order. Thus, Robert’s Rules of Order are used more on the international scale, while Bourinot’s on a more national scale. The municipal/local by-laws describe the specific rules of order that apply to their meetings.

Example: CUPE Parliamentary  Procedure Handbook

According to the City of Hamilton’s Procedural By-Law, all in-person / virtual / hybrid proceedings of City Council and Committees follow the parliamentary rules contained in the most recent edition of Bourinot’s Rules of Order, Geoffrey H. Stanford, Fourth Edition.

So What is Bourinot’s Rules of Order?

Bourinot’s Rules of Order is a set of procedural guidelines based on the parliamentary rules of the House of Commons in Ottawa. These rules are designed to facilitate fair and democratic decision-making in various types of assemblies, ensuring that the majority’s will is respected while minority opinions are also considered. The origins of these rules trace back to British parliamentary practices established since the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, which have been adapted and modified over the centuries.

Originally written by Sir John George Bourinot, who served as the Chief Clerk of the House of Commons from 1880 to 1902, Bourinot’s Rules of Order aim to help Canadians understand the procedures of the House of Commons. The book has undergone several revisions to incorporate updates to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons and to adapt the rules for use in non-parliamentary assemblies, such as corporate shareholder meetings.

The fourth edition of Bourinot’s Rules of Order includes revisions reflecting changes in federal legislation and modernizes the language to acknowledge the equal roles of men and women in public life. The book’s objective remains to describe parliamentary procedures in a way that can be adapted for other assemblies, promoting orderly and fair deliberation and decision-making processes.

Having learned about what’s Bourinot’s Rules of Order (BRO), how are these rules actually used in the City of Hamilton’s Council & Committee meetings?

Move on to Chapter II: Steps of Presenting a Motion